Sonoma Supervisors Approve Clean Power Authority

Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has approved a countywide clean power program that will allow cities to purchase and provide power generation services to customers within a defined service area. 

“The steps taken today by our Board will move us forward with developing the final pieces needed to make a determination regarding the Sonoma Clean Power Program,” said Supervisor Shirlee Zane in a statement.

“Sonoma Clean Power can provide multiple benefits to our community. These include greenhouse gas reductions resulting from greener, less carbon-intensive energy sources as well as job creation through the implementation of local efficiency and power projects, and local control.”

On Tuesday, the board approved creating a Joint Powers Authority for the Sonoma Clean Power Authority. Supervisors, along with Water Agency Board of Directors, will initially act as the directors of the authority until additional municipalities decide to participate. 

The goal is for Sonoma County to give customers an alternative source of energy to PG&E. It's not known how the addition will impact rates, although they could increase up to $10 per month, although they would gradually level out over a 20-year period.

Before a program can be implemented in a particular jurisdiction, California law requires the entity that wants to implement the program to adopt an ordinance.

Marin Energy Authority, a Community Choice Aggregation Program, will provide consulting services to the Sonoma Clean Power Authority.

Follow Sonoma Valley Patch on Facebook and Twitter.